The projects proposed in this plan are all located within the Gulf Coast Region and are consistent with the eligible criteria as stated in the RESTORE Act, and in accordance with the focus areas selected by the Council which include infrastructure projects benefiting the economy and corresponding planning assistance.

The Draft MIP was released for a 45-day public comment period on April 19, 2018, and after review and consideration of the comments received, the plan was revised as appropriate. All supporting documentation for development of the MIP, including comments received and associated responses, may be found in the MIP Appendix.

“Once again, this is a significant milestone for the Council and the State of Alabama. The process has been long and arduous, but in the end, the selected projects will have a tremendous positive economic impact for the entire south Alabama region,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “We are anxious to move on to the next stage and begin implementation of these transformational projects.”

The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council was created with the passage of the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The 10-member council is made up of the Governor, who serves as chair; the Director of the Alabama State Port Authority, who serves as vice-chair; the Chairman of the Baldwin County Commission; the President of the Mobile County Commission; and the Mayors of Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Mobile, and Orange Beach. Former Congressman Jo Bonner serves as the Governor’s representative in her absence.

“As Administrator for the Council, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is pleased to have been a part of this process and is appreciative of the time and effort the Council committed to develop this plan,” said ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “The projects selected for inclusion in the MIP will go a long way toward restoring the economic damage incurred in coastal Alabama as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.”

The proposed activities for Direct Component funding in this plan have a total estimated cost of $192,416,759.